Carer’s Credit in Northern Ireland 2026/27: Eligibility and Claim

In Northern Ireland, Carer’s Credit is a weekly Class 3 National Insurance credit for eligible unpaid carers. It can protect your NI record for future State Pension and bereavement-benefit purposes. It does not pay cash. The application, contact office and claim deadline differ from the Great Britain process, so use the NI route in this guide rather than assuming the DWP instructions apply.

What Carer’s Credit does

Carer’s Credit adds a Class 3 NI credit for qualifying care weeks. The credit can protect future entitlement to State Pension and bereavement benefits, but it is not an allowance paid to you and does not guarantee a particular pension amount. For the GB and Scotland rules, see the separate Great Britain Carer’s Credit guide.

The NI claim is also separate from Carer’s Allowance in Northern Ireland, which is a cash benefit with its own care-hours, earnings and payment tests. If you receive Carer’s Allowance, credits are normally automatic; do not confuse an underlying NI credit with a second weekly payment.

Who may qualify

Nidirect says you must be aged 16 or over and under State Pension age, and look after one or more people for a combined total of at least 20 hours a week. The person cared for must usually receive a listed disability benefit, including:

• Personal Independence Payment daily-living component at either rate;
• Disability Living Allowance care component at the middle or highest rate;
• Attendance Allowance or Constant Attendance Allowance; or
• Armed Forces Independence Payment.

If no listed benefit is in payment, a health or social care professional may be able to certify that the person needs the hours of care provided. Complete the Care Certificate section of the claim pack and have the appropriate professional sign it. Nidirect also lists habitual residence in Northern Ireland as a condition and says a person in prison cannot qualify. Caring is measured from Sunday to Saturday, so weekend care can count.

Nidirect says income, savings and investments do not affect Carer’s Credit. This does not change the financial tests for Carer’s Allowance, Universal Credit or other support.

Check for automatic credits first

You do not need a separate Carer’s Credit form if you receive NI Carer’s Allowance or Child Benefit for a child under 12; nidirect says credits are awarded automatically. Some foster carers already receive National Insurance credits through HMRC and do not need this form. Check the NI record or contact the responsible office if you are unsure whether credits have been recorded.

You may usually keep qualifying during a break from caring of up to 12 consecutive weeks. Nidirect says to tell the Disability and Carers Service straight away if the break is longer than 12 weeks or if you stop providing at least 20 hours of care a week.

How to apply and the NI deadline

If credits are not automatic, use the CC1 Carer’s Credit claim pack linked from nidirect’s Carer’s Credit page. Complete the form and any required Care Certificate, then follow the submission instructions in the current pack. Nidirect says you can also request a pack from the Disability and Carers Service.

The NI page gives a specific deadline: you have until the end of the tax year after the tax year in which the caring took place to apply. For example, for care during tax year 2025/26, the stated deadline is 5 April 2027. Do not wait for State Pension age to gather old care evidence. Keep a copy of the form, certificate and submission record.

Frequently Asked Questions

There is no calculator for deciding whether a care week qualifies or how it changes a future pension. Use the current nidirect Carer’s Credit guidance and check your NI record.